Nation celebrates Eid ul Adha with prayers for Gaza

Pakistanis are celebrating Eid ul Adha today with religious fervour and devotion with large prayer gatherings organised in mosques, Eidgahs, and open grounds.

Special prayers were offered for national security, prosperity, and the well-being of fellow Muslims, particularly those in Palestine.

Strict security measures were also taken on the occasion to avoid any untoward incident.

Civic authorities of different cities and towns made special arrangements for the disposal of carcasses and other solid waste material during the three days.

Animal sacrifices will continue during the three days of Eid. Citizens will perform individual and collective sacrifices in the way of the Almighty. The sacrificial meat will also be distributed among the poor and needy.

Leaders urge nation to embrace Eid spirit

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif felicitated the nation and the Muslim Ummah on the blessed occasion, highlighting the spirit of sacrifice and charity associated with the auspicious occasion.

In his Eid message, Zardari prayed to Almighty Allah to grant His blessings and happiness to the Muslim world and Pakistan. He said that Eid commemorated the willingness of two Prophets of Allah – Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS) to sacrifice their dearest possessions for the pleasure of Allah.

Zardari said that Almighty Allah put these great personalities through trials and both of them bowed their heads to the will of Allah, adding that this act of sacrifice became so popular in the presence of Almighty Allah that He made this worship of sacrifice obligatory on the Muslim Ummah.

“It is a lesson for us that the key to success is to remain firm in the situation of trials and tests and to obey Allah Almighty,” President Zardari said. He urged the nation to reaffirm their commitment to the values of brotherhood, sacrifice, and selflessness on this occasion.

He encouraged everyone to share the joy of Eid with those around them, especially those who were unable to celebrate due to financial constraints.

“I prayed to Allah Almighty to shower His blessings and mercy upon the entire Muslim Ummah, particularly Pakistan.”

In a separate message, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Eidul Azha aimed to sacrifice one’s own desires to achieve higher goals. He prayed to Almighty Allah to “grant us happiness of Eidul Azha and grant us the opportunity to act” in the spirit of the sacrifice.

“On the blessed occasion of Eidul Azha, we have to take care of our brothers and sisters who cannot afford to sacrifice, so that our countrymen and brothers and sisters, who are economically weak can also celebrate these joys.”

On this day, the prime minister said, “we also have to remember the great sacrifice of the oppressed Muslims of Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), who are standing like an iron wall in the face of oppression and brutality”.

Shehbaz congratulated the nation and the Muslim world on Eid and the occasion of Hajj. “On this auspicious occasion, I pray to Allah Almighty to accept the prayers and sacrifices of the Pakistani nation and the Muslim Ummah,” he added.

One of the biggest religious holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world, Eidul Azha marks the culmination of Hajj rites at Mina, Makkah on the 10th of Zul Hijah (the last month of the Islamic calendar).

This Eid is called the “Feast of Sacrifice” to commemorate the sacrifice Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) was willing to make by slaughtering his only son, on Allah’s command. Now, Muslims re-enact the prophet's obedience by slaughtering sacrificial animals.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)